Longfellow in Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Wonderland Amusement Park

The Museum in the Streets: Minneapolis, Minnesota

— 27th and Lake: Industry and Transportation Infrastructure —

Wonderland Amusement Park marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, May 26, 2019

1. Wonderland Amusement Park marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

In 1905, H.A. Dorsey opened Wonderland Amusement Park on 10 acres between Lake ad 32nd streets and 31st and 33rd avenues. It opened to great fanfare, with 70,000 people attending on opening day. Its attractions included a 120-foot-high electrically lighted tower, rollercoaster, carousel, miniature train, boat ride, dance pavilion, and "House of Nonsense." One popular draw was the Infantorium, where visitors watched nurses care for premature babies with newly invented incubators, a common curiousity of the time. Wonderland operated for seven seasons, closing in 1911 due to low attendance, fees, from the 1909 paving of Lake Street, and deteriorating equipment. By the time of the real estate boom of the 1920s, all that remained of Wonderland was the Infantorium at 3101-11 East 31st Street, which had been converted to an apartment building.

In 1905, H.A. Dorsey abrió Wonderland Amusement Park en 10 acres entre Lake y 32nd Streets y 31st y 33rd Avenues, Abrió con bastante fanfarria; asistieron a su inauguración 70,000 personas. Sus atracciones incluín una tore de 120 pies con luces eléctricas, una montaña rusa, calesita, tren en miniatura, botes, pabellón de baile, y una "Casa Sin Sentido". Un atractivo popular era el Infantorium, donde los visitantes observaban a enfermeras cuidar bebés prematuros con incubadoras recién inventadas,

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una curiosidad en aquella época. El parque operó por siete temporadas, cerrando en 1911 por escasa asistencia, importes de la pavimentación de Lake Street, ye equipo deteriorado. Al llegar el boom inmobiliario en 1920, lo único que quedaba de Wonderland era el Infantorium en East 31st Street 3101-11, que se convirtió en edificio de apartamentos.

Erected 2012 by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 12.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets: Minneapolis, Minnesota series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.

Location. 44° 56.908′ N, 93° 13.635′ W. Marker is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in Hennepin County. It is in Longfellow. It is on E. Lake Street near 31st Avenue S., on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3028 E Lake Street, Minneapolis MN 55407, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 2916 East Lake: East Lake Branch Library (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Minneapolis, Minnesota (approx. 0.2 miles away); 2721-23 East Lake: Lake Theater (approx. ¼ mile away); 2730 East 31st Street: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (approx. ¼ mile away); 2629 East Lake: Minnehaha Grill (approx. 0.3 miles away); 2700 East Lake: Coliseum Building / Freeman's Department Store

View of marker at the northwest corner of E. Lake St. and 31st Ave. S. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, May 26, 2019

2. View of marker at the northwest corner of E. Lake St. and 31st Ave. S.

(approx. 0.3 miles away); Longfellow School (approx. 0.3 miles away); 3012 Minnehaha Avenue South: Lauritzen Wagon and Blacksmith Shop (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Minneapolis.

Another marker is no longer nearby. 2701 East Lake: International Order of Odd Fellows (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Wonderland Amusement Park on Wikipedia. (Submitted on May 29, 2019, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.)

<i>Premature infants who were kept in incubators at Wonderland Park, Minneapolis</i> image. Click for full size.

photo courtesy of the Minneapolis Historical Society, 1905

3. Premature infants who were kept in incubators at Wonderland Park, Minneapolis

<i>Wonderland by Night, Minneapolis, Minn.</i> image. Click for full size.

postcard published by the V.O. Hammon Co. (courtesy of the Hennepin County Library), circa 1910

4. Wonderland by Night, Minneapolis, Minn.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2019, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 1,497 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2019, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 3, 4. submitted on May 29, 2019. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.